Yoga

Erica Desai is a health-oriented young professional based in the Richmond, Virginia metropolitan area. When she is not hard at work at her job working in a heart care center of a major hospital, she loves to exercise and have fun outside. She has many active hobbies, including running, swimming and playing volleyball, but she also loves to try new things. Desai has lived in Richmond for the past several years, and has found many great places to stay active in the area.

There are plenty of great gyms in the Richmond area. For those looking for a cheap and convenient place to work out, the YMCA is located downtown and has relatively affordable fees. For those looking for a more upscale gym, the VCU gyms offer a huge variety of fun workout options. The Midlothian Athletic Club is another great gym, with pools and racquetball courts in addition to the traditional array of ellipticals and treadmills. For those looking for a gym that is open 24/7, Richmond Balance is conveniently located on Main Street and is open around the clock.

For those who enjoy running or biking, there are also plenty of beautiful trails in the Richmond area. The James River Park trail loop is located downtown on the river, with nice views and a moderately challenging array of terrain. You can also head over to Belle Isle, a small island where you can run and bike in addition to rock climbing and kayaking. This is one of the most beautiful places in Richmond, and although it can get crowded, it is an amazing place to work out. Finally, for something that is a little further out in the country, you can head to Pocahontas State Park, which is located south of Richmond in Chesterfield. This park has a great network of trails to explore, so you won’t get bored.

If you prefer to exercise by taking classes, there are also plenty of great options for that in Richmond as well. There are plenty of great yoga studios throughout the area – Yoga Source and Shockoe Slip Yoga are located downtown, and Om On Yoga is located in Westhampton, so there are plenty of centrally located and accessible options. If you prefer Pilates, check out Core Pilates of Richmond, located in Tuckahoe, or Balance Pilates in the Near West End. For a more active barre class, head to the Barre Boutique in Carytown for classes with a professional staff that will fit your lifestyle.

Erica Desai loves working out and staying fit, and she finds that Richmond is a very easy place to do that because of all the amazing workout options available. She plans to continue exploring throughout her time in Richmond.